ZT 0560 or Reate Horizon B?

A

AlphaDog86

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Mar 30, 2015
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I'm looking to add a framelock flipper to the collection and cannot decide between these two. They both have similar dimensions, weight and price. Which one would you choose and why? Any insight from anyone who owns/owned both would be greatly appreciated.
 
I've read lots of good things about the Reate knives, but I just couldn't bring myself to pay that kind of money for a Chinese knife. Just my opinion, of course.
 
Having owned both I prefer the design of the horizon, but the only downside is idk how reate warranty is. They do include a whole set of screws and stuff though. I would say the quality of the Reate is higher, a better flipper and more solid overall, but the ZT is no slouch either. I did get blade play in every single ZT though.
 
Man I have the same issue I'm looking at the ZT 562CF that I been putting of buying and the reate district plus .
 
I have all the horizon's but this one, the B, and I also have the ZT 0560. They are both great knives. The ZT is going to be lighter weight than most Reates, and allows for more modifications like a different scale, pocket clip and stand offs. It's one of my top 5, I think the BW style seems to be a model that has been perfected since I've had others with not always the best luck. The Reate's are perfection, I own almost the whole line, both District 9s, both valkyries, two Horizon As, a horizon C, a hills, and a horizon D. I have never experienced one single issue with funtion, they all work flawlessly. They are customizable in that you can pay someone to annodize them, but the colors are limited. I have to admit, I've never had the B, just because it's less desirable than an A due to the blade steel. Although I really like and appreciate all of my Reates, everyone should own a ZT 0560 at least once, and if they do, I'd doubt they get rid of it. Unless of course it's to get the 0562 which is a little smaller, although almost exactly the same blade size, lighter, and therefor more edc friendly.
 
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miltmaldo said:
Man I have the same issue I'm looking at the ZT 562CF that I been putting of buying and the reate district plus .
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I wish I could bring myself to buy one of those, they just don't come up on the used market for a bargain almost ever. I have to admit that the D9s would be my last pick for a Reate, that's prolly why they came out with this "improved" version. I bet that one is super nice, but I'm kinda pissed that they didn't lighten the design first. Now I have the heavier versions that I can't trade/sell for what I got them for and just gotta be happy with them. They are some of my least carried knives.

BTW, if this means anything, a used Horizon will trade/sell better than a standard D9 and frankly, I see ZT's trading/selling better (holding original value and moving fast) than Reate in general. I could be wrong about that though.

I've only had about 70 or so of these modern folders and the Horizon A and ZT 0560bw are in my top 5. Next of those two lines would be my 0562 DONT GET THE CF version though, it's a jip, the blade steel is the samd and the cf is paper thin, So much so that the screws protrude past it. Eventually I'm just going to replace that scale with something nice or sell it and get the G10 version. And as for Reate, the Valkyrie 2 is in my top 2 knives, I consider it perfection, but they are impossible to find, the reg Valkyrie is great too. However, my hills, a very underrated knife because it's a tad bit smaller and cheaper, works like perfection, it is prolly in the top 3 smoothest of all the knives I own.
 
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I have both (well, an 0561). The Reate is going to be harder to find as its been discontinued for a while now. The Reate is a better made knife whereas the 0560 comes with the excellent KAI service and support.

If possible, try to handle both. Honestly, you can't go wrong with either. If I were you, I'd insist on an 0560 with lock face insert...
 
Sillyship said:
Next of those two lines would be my 0562 DONT GET THE CF version though, it's a jip, the blade steel is the samd and the cf is paper thin, So much so that the screws protrude past it. Eventually I'm just going to replace that scale with something nice or sell it and get the G10 version.
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The ZT0562 CF uses CTS-204P steel, the G-10 0562 uses ELMAX.
 
I've handle a bunch of both and the quality of reate knives is amazing. It would be my choice but that's just my .02 fwiw
 
jill jackson said:
The ZT0562 CF uses CTS-204P steel, the G-10 0562 uses ELMAX.
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Woops, he's so right, I forgot that it comes with either the carpenters steel or the rarer M390 version. I forgot that I bought this one to test out that steel since it's the only knife I own with a CTS-204P blade. I have to admit that I haven't used this one as much as I'd like, just have too many knives at this point.
 
I rarely ever see a horizon b for sale , that might be a needle in a haystack, unless you know of someone whos selling one.
 
I prefer to own a ZT if given the choice. The warranty aspect alone is important enough, it's been proven and is one of the best in the business from what I've read.
 
RevDevil said:
I prefer to own a ZT if given the choice. The warranty aspect alone is important enough, it's been proven and is one of the best in the business from what I've read.
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I gotta say that this is a consideration. I sent a knife back to ZT once, well actually, I had to send it in twice, but they fixed it and shipped it back at no cost to me. Could that be true of Reate, in China? However, again, I own quite a few Reate knives and none had any issues at all.
 
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ZT for sure! It is made in the USA and like everyone else has said, the warranty is great!
 
I've owned two of both knives, so I speak from experience.

First the disclaimer: ZT is a great company and I respect what they stand for ("Overbuilt in the USA"). I've owned a lot of their knives and have really really liked most of them.

With that said, I would recommend the Horizon in this matchup. I prefer its blade/handle proportions, the flipping action is superior, and the fit and finish is amazing. Both 0560s I owned were very uncomfortable to disengage the lock, due to the machined jimping on the lock bar (meant to improve grip, but actually just enhance pain). I also had one open up on its own in my pocket and slice my hand when I reached in.

Ps. If you want a ZT in that price range, check out the 0452CF. I love it.
 
Hackenslash said:
I have both (well, an 0561). The Reate is going to be harder to find as its been discontinued for a while now. The Reate is a better made knife whereas the 0560 comes with the excellent KAI service and support.

If possible, try to handle both. Honestly, you can't go wrong with either. If I were you, I'd insist on an 0560 with lock face insert...
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maybe it is time for me to check out a Reate because I cannot imagine how better built a production folding knife can be than zt0561 (granted my 0561 is a newer gen with lockbar insert and perhaps without any of the issues that earlier ones have).
 
The D is amazing, wish I could have gotten an A. Pick your poison, all Ti or half CF, you can't go wrong. The CF has that darker and iridescent look, the Ti has that colder metallic feel and more heft but they're both about equally light clipped to the pocket. Both better than the 562cf, which is certainly better than the 560. An XM-18 is another great option but I actually like the Horizon better and it's so much less expensive. I might even prefer a 562cf over the hinder, I didn't own both at the same time, though. A Shiro takes them all IMO but it's not worth the price unless money doesn't mean much to you. I would get a CKF Gratch or Sukhoi personally, that's the sweet spot.
 
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